CHAPTER XXIV

OF FLORIMELL’S GIRDLE

The tournament being ended, the next thing in order to be done was to adjudge the prizes. For the first day the prize was given to Sir Satyrane, as has been told before, because, having been first at the beginning, he was also first at the end. For the second day Sir Triamond was held to have excelled all others: Cambell, indeed, was victor, but then Triamond had saved him from imprisonment, and he who saves the victor is, without controversy, first of all. For the third day the prize was adjudged to Britomart, or, as men called her, the Knight of the Ebony Spear, for who she was in truth no one knew. Nor could this judgment be disputed, for, whereas the Savage Knight had overthrown all others, so was he overthrown by her. And this third prize was held to be the most honourable of all, and the knight to whom it was given the first of all. And because by good right beauty and valour go together, there must needs be a trial of the dames, who should be reckoned the fairest, with the girdle of Florimell for prize.

First came Sir Cambell, leading his wife, the fair Cambina, clad in a veil which covered her from head to foot, which being taken away, such was her beauty that all hearts were won. Nevertheless, when Sir Triamond, coming next, showed his wife Canacé, they were not less moved by the sight. And some greatly admired the false Duessa, when Sir Paridell led her forth before the company, for some hearts are moved by one thing and some by another. Nor did the Lady Lucida, whose champion was Sir Ferramont, want for worshippers; nor, indeed, did any one of the hundred dames assembled in that place, lack some to champion her. Yet, doubtless, the great number of the votes had been given to Amoret, when Britomart led her forth, but that she also was surpassed in the common judgment by Sir Blandamour’s Florimell, not the true Florimell, it must be understood, but the false which the witch woman had made. For in comparison of her all others seemed but base, even as the stars seem to grow dull when the moon is shining at her full. “This,” said they all, “is no mortal creature, but an angel from heaven.”

Even so when some cunning smith overlays base metal with covering of gold, he lays upon it so fair a gloss that it seems to surpass the true gold itself. So they who had looked upon the true Florimell thought to themselves, “The dame is fairer than ever before!” For ever it is that false things do seem to excel the true, so weak and false are the judgments of men.

Then, by common consent, the girdle was adjudged to her as being the fairest of all; but lo! when they thought to bind it round her waist, they could not prevail to do it. So soon as they fastened it, it seemed to loose itself and fall away, as if there was some secret hindrance and want of fitness. And so it fared with many other dames when they assayed the same; when they would have girt the thing about their waists, they could not. However fast it seemed to be, it was soon seen to be loose. Then a certain squire, who thought scorn of women, cried aloud: “Surely this is a sorrowful sight, that out of so many fair dames not one can fit to herself the girdle of beauty! Shame on the man who thought of this fatal device! May he never find fair lady to love him!” At which saying all the knights laughed loud, and all the ladies frowned.

And now the gentle Amoret, coming last of all that company, took the girdle in her hands, and put it around her waist, and lo! it fitted to a marvel. But the false Florimell snatched it away as if in anger, and would have clasped it round her own waist. She clasped it, but it fitted as ill as before. Nevertheless it was adjudged to her as her right, for such the common voice had been; and she herself was assigned to the Knight of the Ebony Spear, that is, to Britomart. But she was ill-content: “Nay, nay,” she said, all thinking that it was the Knight of the Ebony Spear that spoke, “I am no light of love; I am still steadfast to my own Amoret.” Then she was adjudged to the Savage Knight, but he had already departed in great wrath; and then to Triamond, but he was faithful to his Canacé; and after Triamond to Sir Satyrane. He indeed was well content. But then arose great strife, and, like enough, there had been a drawing of swords, but for this strange happening. Sir Satyrane stood forth and said:

“Surely we have had enough of battles; why should we fight again the old quarrels? Let the fair lady choose for herself. Surely the love that comes of her will is the sweetest of all!” To this they all consented. And so the choice was given to the false Florimell. Long looked she upon each gallant knight, for it seemed as if she would willingly have pleased them all; but at the last she turned to Bragadocchio, for he also stood among the rest, and said:

“This is the man I choose!” Great was the wrath of all the company of knights, for they knew not how fitting it was that the false beauty should choose the valour that was false.